Author: Janet Dawson

Aiden Tyler, Quaran-Teen by Rex Ogle

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Presented by Junior Library Guild

Aiden Tyler, Quaran-teen

Summary:  Aiden Tyler is a typical middle school kid.  He lives with his mother, stepfather, and two half-siblings in a small apartment.  Hangs out with his three good friends at school. When they hear about the coronavirus spreading through China, no one’s particularly concerned.  Then, almost overnight, Aiden’s scouring empty shelves for toilet paper and hearing rumors that school is going to be closed. The rumors prove true, and before long Aiden is spending his days with his family in cramped quarters, trying to avoid schoolwork and not let his out-of-work mother and younger sister and brother drive him too crazy.  How will the rest of Aiden’s year go? No one knows. Grades 4-7.

Pros:  I’ve started following this ripped-from-today’s-headlines serialized novel at https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/quaran-teen.  The third installment comes out today.  I enjoyed Rex Ogle’s somewhat harrowing Free Lunch last year, and I can see some parallels between young Rex and Aiden (thankfully, Aiden’s home life is a bit more stable).  I’m offering this as a group read to kids at my schools in grades 5-8. They can comment on a Padlet as they read.

Cons:  How will Aiden’s story end?  Surely not even the author knows at this point.

Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park

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Published by Clarion Books

Prairie Lotus: Park, Linda Sue: 9781328781505: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Hanna and her widowed father are hoping to find a home in Dakota Territory; it’s 1880, and they have been having trouble finding a town that will accept half-Chinese Hanna.  They decide on the town of LaForge, where Hanna’s father knows the local constable, Mr. Harris.  Hanna’s late mother encouraged her to go to school, but when Hanna enrolls, many of the locals keep their children at home rather than have them study side-by-side with a Chinese girl. Pretty soon, the only students left are Mr. Harris’s two daughters.  Bess Harris and Hanna end up taking their graduation exams together and become friends. Hanna invites Bess to help her with the sewing at her father’s new dry goods store, and the two work together to help Hanna realize her dream of becoming a dressmaker.  Overcoming fear and prejudice, Hanna ultimately finds a way to become part of her new community. Includes an author’s note in which Linda Sue Park explains how she wrote this book to find a place for herself in her beloved Laura Ingalls Wilder books. 272 pages; grades 5-8.

Pros:  Allow me to introduce my first definite Newbery contender for 2021.  Linda Sue Park does an amazing job of creating a highly readable story that pays homage to Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books while at the same time highlighting the racism and prejudices of the time, not only with Hanna’s Chinese-American experience, but also in a subplot about the local Indians.  This would make a great unit paired with a Little House book and The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich.

Cons:  There are a lot of complex and important issues; this feels like a book that would be best read with some adult guidance.

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Straw by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Straw (The Spoon Series Book 3) - Kindle edition by Rosenthal, Amy ...

Straw — Scott Magoon

Summary:  Straw always wants to be first and zips through any beverage like it’s nothing.  But one day, stuck into an icy slushie, he gets a brain freeze and ends up collapsed at the bottom of the cup.  A loopy crazy straw comes to his rescue, reminding him that sometimes it’s okay to slow things down. Straw learns to stop and smell the milkshake, slowing down enough to notice big red strawberries and swirly whipped cream.  It’s a lesson he doesn’t always remember, but most of the time he’s a bit more chill these days. 48 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  As she did in Spoon and Chopsticks, Amy Krouse Rosenthal has lots of fun with language and usually-inanimate objects to teach a lesson in a way kids will enjoy.

Cons:  While reading other reviews for this book, I learned that Amy Krouse Rosenthal passed away in 2017 at the age of 51.

If you would like to order this book from the Odyssey Bookshop, click here.

Fight of the Century: Alice Paul Battles Woodrow Wilson for the Vote by Barb Rosenstock, illustrated by Sarah Green

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Published by Calkins Creek

Fight of the Century: Alice Paul Battles Woodrow Wilson for the ...

Coming Soon: The Fight Of The Century - sarah.green

Summary:  When Woodrow Wilson was elected president in 1912, Alice Paul decided to convince him that U.S. women should be given the right to vote.  After a parade the day before his inauguration and multiple visits to the White House failed to garner any results, Paul and other suffragists began a silent protest in front of the White House.  She was eventually arrested and spent seven months in jail, where she staged a hunger strike. Finally, in early 1918, Wilson agreed to support an amendment for women’s suffrage, and the rest is history as the Nineteenth Amendment granting women the right to vote became law on August 26, 1920.  Includes additional information about Alice Paul and Woodrow Wilson; a timeline of women’s suffrage in the U.S.; photos; and a lengthy bibliography. 40 pages; grades 2-5.

Pros:  Using the format of a prize fight with Paul and Wilson as the two worthy opponents adds an element of fun to this story, but doesn’t take away from the informational value.  The extensive back matter makes it a great research resource.

Cons:  Readers with no background knowledge may find the format a bit confusing.

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The Popper Penguin Rescue by Eliot Schrefer

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Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Thanks to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing me with a free digital review copy of this book.  This book is scheduled for release October 13, 2020.

The Popper Penguin Rescue by Eliot Schrefer

Summary:  Many years have passed since Mr. Popper and his family raised their penguins in Stillwater, and the town still celebrates his feats.  In the neighboring town of Hilltop, these celebrations have taken on a tackier, more commercial look. Distant relatives Joel and Nina Popper, along with their mother, move into the town’s abandoned petting zoo and discover two penguin eggs hidden in the basement.  When the eggs hatch, the family decides to take the chicks to the Arctic island where the descendants of the original Popper penguins live. They discover that penguins don’t belong in the Arctic, and decide an expedition to Antarctica–with all the Popper penguins–is in order.  Life with penguins has its share of surprises, and Nina and Joel prove themselves to be worthy successors to their penguin-loving ancestor. 176 pages; grades 3-5.

Pros:  Fans of the original Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater will get a kick out of finding out what’s happened to the penguins over the years.  With plenty of illustrations (not seen by me), this would make a good read-aloud or first “real” chapter book. Schrefer introduces some environmental concepts (climate change, invasive species) in a subtle way that is mixed in with plenty of penguin fun.

Cons:  Readers will appreciate this book a lot more if they read the original first.

Mr. Popper's Penguins: Atwater, Richard, Atwater, Florence ...

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The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert

~ Janet Dawson ~ 5 Comments

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Thanks to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for giving me a free digital copy of this book to review.

The Only Black Girls in Town: Colbert, Brandy: 9780316456388 ...

Summary:  Alberta has long been the only black girl in her seventh grade class.  It’s as much a part of who she is as having two dads and loving surfing.  So when Edie and her mom buy the bed and breakfast across the street, Alberta is surprised to learn that they are black…and that Edie is just her age.  The two become friends, causing a rift between Alberta and her best friend Laramie, who starts hanging out with the cool eighth graders. When Edie discovers some old journals in the attic of the B&B, she and Alberta get drawn into a mystery involving the identity of a young woman who moved to California in the 1950’s.  What they discover about her ends up revealing the racism that has persisted in their town to the present day. Seventh grade is never easy, but Albert comes through the first half of it with a greater appreciation for her friends, family, and community. 369 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  This was one of the most enjoyable middle grade novels I’ve read this year.  The characters, middle school angst, and dialogue were spot on, and the mystery was a fun way to explore the past and how it influences the present.  

Cons:  I like it when there’s a little depth to the mean girl, but in this case, she seemed to just be a horrible person.

If you would like to buy this book at the Odyssey Bookshop, click here.

 

All the Way to the Top: How One Girl’s Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything by Annette Bay Pimentel, pictures by Nabi H. Ali, foreword by Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins

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Published by Sourcebooks

All the Way to the Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with ...

All the Way to the Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with ...

Summary:  From the time she was a young girl, Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins realized her cerebral palsy kept her from doing everything her sister could–and she was determined to change that.  She and her family became activists, joining protests for disability rights all over America. Upon hearing that members of Congress didn’t want to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), they decided to go to Washington, D.C. to join the protest there.  When Jennifer saw some of the adults sliding from their wheelchairs to crawl up the steps to the Capitol building, she wanted to join them. Photos of her climb were shown around the world and helped get the ADA into the news, and finally, passed by Congress. Includes two pages with additional information about disabilities, accessibility, and activism; a page on life before and after the ADA; a timeline of the Disability Rights Movement; the photo of Jennifer; and a bibliography.  32 pages; grades K-4.

Pros:  This excellent resource tells Jennifer’s story in a way that’s accessible to all readers.  Her determination and activism from such a young age may inspire others to get involved in causes they feel passionate about.  If they do, the back matter will give them a good start.

Cons:  It seemed like a photo and biography of the adult Jennifer belonged on the back flap with the author and illustration information.

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Village of Scoundrels by Margi Preus

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Published by Amulet Books

Village of Scoundrels: Margi Preus: 9781419708978: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Inspired by real people, places, and events, this book tells the story of a group of teenagers who helped save Jews in their French village by forging documents, passing secret messages, and leading groups to safety in Switzerland.  Young police officer Perdant has been sent to keep an eye on this “village of scoundrels” for the Nazis, but as he gets to know some of the kids, he begins to question whether or not he is on the side of right. The characters, including Perdant, all come together in a finale at a ruined chalet where the teens are hiding some of their friends, hoping to help them escape before the Gestapo raids begin.  Readers will be kept guessing until the end as to what the final outcome will be. Includes a 24-page epilogue with stories and photos of the real people on whom the story is based; a timeline covering events from 1934 until 1945; and a bibliography. 320 pages; grades 5-8.

Pros:  One can never have too much WWII historical fiction, and middle schoolers will be inspired by the courage of these kids who risked their lives to save others.

Cons:  There were a lot of characters to keep track of, and their stories were only loosely connected.

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Finding Treasure: A Collection of Collections by Michelle Schaub, illustrated by Carmen Saldaña

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Published by Charlesbridge

Finding Treasure: A Collection of Collections: Michelle Schaub ...

review + giveaway] Finding Treasure: A Collection of Collections ...

Summary:  A school assignment to share a collection leaves the narrator wondering what she should bring.  Her classmates seem excited about their showing their arrowheads, marbles, and teddy bears, but she doesn’t collect anything.  She interviews family members and friends, creating poems about each of them: her mother’s buttons, her brother’s baseball cards, an aunt’s license plates–even the mail carrier’s collection of smiling faces.  The last page shows her back at school, surrounded by kids with samples of their collections on their desks. She’s not worried now, though, because she has a collection of her own–a book of poems. 32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A charming first poetry book for primary grade kids by the author of Fresh-Picked Poetry.  Readers may be inspired to start a collection, write a poem, or do both.

Cons:  This book actually came out in 2019.  

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Nesting by Henry Cole

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Katherine Tegen Books

Nesting: Cole, Henry, Cole, Henry: 9780062885920: Amazon.com: Books

Summary: Step by step, readers are taken through the early part of a robin’s life cycle, starting when two robins mate and build a nest together.  Soon there are four blue eggs in the nest. After the babies hatch out of the eggs, the parents are busy providing them with food and protection, including a dramatic battle with a snake that crawls up the tree.  Eventually the young robins learn to fly and leave the nest. They’ll survive the winter together, the old nest covered in snow. Includes an author’s note with additional information about robins. 40 pages; ages 3-8.

Pros:  A perfect introduction to robins, with just the right amount of information for picture book readers.  The illustrations are outstanding, showing lots of details in black and white with occasional splashes of blue for the sky and eggs.

Cons:  As is so often the case, there wasn’t quite enough back matter to satisfy me.

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